Animal carrying cart



Feb. 24, 1953 c. w. JONES 2,62 0

ANIMAL CARRYING CART Filed March 24, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEEI' 2 CHAQLE5 W KIM/Es,

Jixvswoe.

Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improved collapsible carts particularly intended for use by hunters of wild game in transporting bagged animals from more or less remote areas to camps or nearby base locations. In certain respects, carts embodying the present invention are improvements on the form of cart shown in my copending application Ser. No. 72,491, filed January 24, 1949.

The general object of the invention is to provide a 'cart adapted to normally be carried in collapsed condition as a small, light weight unit while being easily erectable, when the occasion arises for its use, to form a rigid structure capable of transporting a relatively large and heavy animal. A particular feature of the cart involves its construction throughout in a manner such that little or no mechanical ability and no tools of any kind are required for its collapse or erection. Further, I facilitate erection and collapse of the cart, while at the same time insuring against the loss or separation of any of its parts,

by a unique construction rendering the cart foldable to collapsed condition without the disconnection of any of the parts from the others. As will appear, even the fasteners employed for securing the various parts together are permanently attached to the foldable structure.

structurally, the preferred form of cart includes a pair of elongated sectionally formed longitudinal frame members supported in laterally spaced relation by a suitable ground traveling unit. such as a wheel, and interconnected by a number of transverse load supporting members on which an animal may be placed. In collapsing the cart, the two longitudinal frame members are adapted to first be folded individually to reduced lengths and to then be swung laterally together in their folded conditions to form an extremely compact and easily handled unit. As will appear, the longitudinal members are preferably mounted for the above lateral movement by attachment to opposite sides of the ground travelling unit or wheel structure so that the individually folded members may be compactly received, in their collapsed condition, at opposite sides of the wheel. In this connection, a particular feature of the invention involves the mounting of the wheel in a manner to be positioned directly between the two folded frame members in the completely collapsed condition of the cart, this being achieved by mounting the wheel for limited movement transversely of its supporting bearing structure during the collapsing operation.

As previously brought out, the two longitudinal frame members are interconnected in their erected conditions by a number of transversely extending load supporting members. Certain rather important features of the invention involve the formation and mounting of these trans- ,verse members in a manner to retain the spaced frame members against both their individual longitudinal folding movement and their relative movement together.

As in the above Jones application, I employ a ground traveling unit us-eable on either dry ground or snow, the unit including a wheel for Ordinary travel and a snow runner normally carried in an elevated position but adapted to be swung downwardly to an active position when needed. One purpose of the present invention is to provide a cart employing a movable runner of this type and yet in which the supports mounting the runner to the cart need not be strong enough to support the weight of the cart. To attain this result, I design the runner to directly engage the bottom of the wheel in its active position so that the weight of the cart is supported through the wheel rather than through the runner mounting. An additional and related feature of the invention involves the novel formation of the runner of a pair of sections mounted for individual retraction at opposite sides of the wheel.

The above and other features and obiects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment ill strated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side view of a preferred form of animal carrying cart embodying the invention and shown in its erected condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cart taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the cart in an almost completely collapsed condition;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. l and showing especially one of the transverse load supporting members;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the underside of one of the transverse load supporting members; i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the interconnected portions of the two sections of a transverse load supporting member and taken on line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view.. of

a joint interconnecting a pair of sections of one of the laterally spaced frame members;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 88 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the wheel assembly or ground traveling unit taken on line 99 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through the wheel assembly taken on line I6I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the ground traveling unit with the wheel partially broken away to show one of the runners in its retracted position;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of one 9f the ,7

wheel mounting bearings and showing especially the manner of mounting a runner to the cart; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forward end o h c wi h an auxiliary ton e ul insl d e h d- Ijefer ring first to Figs. 1 and 2 the illustrated preferred form of cart includes a pair of laterally spaced forwardly converging longitudinal frame members II} each sectionally formed for individual longitudinal folding movement. These sectional frame members are mounted by wheel frames I I to bearing assemblies I2 at the opposite sides of wheel I3 for-relative movement together and apart between the erected condition of Fig. '2 and a collapsed condition in which the two frame members are positioned relatively close together. A number of sectionally formed transverse load supporting members I4 extend between the twospaced longitudinal members to carry an animal and to rigidly lock these longitudinal members against both longitudinal folding movement and movement laterally together. Snow traveling runner elements I5 are movably carried by wheel frames II for swinging movement between upper retracted positions and lowered active positions in which the runners proper are received beneath the wheel.

Each of the members I may include four sectionsltla, IIlb, I00 and Illd interconnected in a foldable end t end series, the upper one of these sections having a handle portion IIO by which the cart is normally controlled. As seen best in Fig. 4, these sections are of T-shaped transverse section, each having an upper horizontal ly extending portion II and a centrally depending rib I6. At the joints interconnecting adjacent sections of the longitudinal members, the depending ribs I5 are enlarged downwardly to form a pair of essentially circular ears I? which are pivotallyinterconnected by transversel-y extending bolts I8 carrying nuts I9 at the outer side of the cart. These nuts are in each instance loose enough to permit relative pivotal movement between the connected frame member sections, and are themselves rotatable, with the screws, relative to the interconnected sectiens. At each of the joints of the longitudinal frame members II), the upper horizontal portions I5I of the two interconnected sections terminate in a pair of spaced shoulders (see Fig. 7),

and between the shoulders the two connected s ctions conta n a ai o u a ly c g r cesses 2I adapted to exactly register in the extended Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 condition of the sections.

The transverse load supporting members I4 are each formed in two sections Ma and Mb carried by the longitudinal frame members respectively and rigidly interconnected at their inner .ends

in the erected condition of the cart. For this purpose, one of the sections I4a may have a tapered lug 22 of circular section receivable within a correspondingly tapered and circular recess 23 of the other section (see Fig. 6). Each of the sections Ma and M17 of the upper three transverse load supporting members is mounted to one of the nuts I9 at a joint connecting an associated pair of the sections .of the corresponding member I0 and is movably carried by the nut for swinging movement between its erected inwardly projecting condition of Fig. 2 and an outer retracted condition extending alongside one of the sections of the frame member, as in Fig. 3. A fourth pair of transverse sections are carried by the lower most longitudinal sections Hill at their lQwer or forward ends. Each of the sections of the transverse load supporting members is pivotally mounted at its outer bifurcated end to one of the nuts I9 by a cotter key or suitable pin 25,-this key also extending through the associated bolt to incidentally lock the nut and bolt against disconnection. From this point of pivotal connection to the nut and bolt, the transverse section extends upwardly at the outside of the corresponding ears I1, then extends inwardly across the top of the ears, and finally curves downwardly and inwardly to connect with a corresponding section from the other side of the cart. Each of the transverse sections has a depending central web portion 26 of a dimension corresponding substantially to the registering recesses 2| in the two associated longitudinal frame member sections, so that movement of the transverse section into its active inwardly projecting position rigidly interlocks the longitudinal sections against relative folding movement. Further, the sides of the transverse section are received between and in abutting engagement with shoulders 20 of the two interconnected longitudinal sections to assure the rigidity of the joint.

The two wheel frames I I are formed integrally with the two lowermost longitudinal sections Ild and each comprise a pair of braces Ila and Ill; converging downwardly and joined at their lower ends. As seen best in Figs. 9 and 10, each of these wheel frames is pivotally connected at its lower end to one of the bearing assemblies I2 for inward swinging movement with the associated longitudinal frame members I5 between the erected condition of Fig. 2 and a collapsed condition alongside the wheel. For this purpose, each of the bearing assemblies includes a circular body I2I having in its outer surface an annular recess within which a circular strap 28 is rotatably received and guided. This strap 28 is pivotally connected to the corresponding wheel frame II by a pin 21. At their inner sides, the bearing assemblies include a pair of ball bearings 29 receivable about the opposite ends of central hub 30 on the wheel to mount the wheel for rotation in the erected condition of the cart. The two bearing assemblies are interconnected by threaded attachment to the opposite ends of rod 3| extending through hub 30. The bearing bodies l2I may each have an enlarged irregularized outer flange I23 to facilitate manual rotation of the bearings relative to the connecting rod. Wing nuts 32 may be threaded onto the opposite ends of rod 3| at the outside of the bearings to act as lock nuts for retaining the bearings in their active positions of Fig. 9.

'To permit movement. of the vwheelto a position directly between the two wheel frames 1,! and their associated folded longitudinal frame members It in the collapsed condition of the cart, the wheel is specially formed for movement upwardly relative to the bearings from the active condition of Fig. 9. For this purpose, one of the radial spokes 33 of the wheel contains a slot 34 extending radially outwardly from the center of the wheel to an outer location at which a second hub-like portion 35 projects laterally from the opposite sides of the spoke. During collapse of the cart, wing nuts 32 and bearing assemblies H are threaded outwardly along rod 3| to positions at which hub 39 is released from ball bearings 29. The wheel may then be moved upwardly with rod 3| passing through slot 34 to a position within hub-like portion 35. The bearings may then be tightened together along rod 3| and about hub 35 to retain the wheel in an eccentric position relative to the bearings.

For use in snow, each of the wheel frames It carries a runner element [5 at its inner side for swinging movement between the upper retracted full line position of Fig. 11 and the active broken line position of that figure. Each of these runner elements is mounted to the cart by a headed pin 3'! projecting laterally from the end of the runner element and extending through a slightly elongated slot 38 in the corresponding wheel frame so formed as to permit the runner element to extend angularly alongside the wheel frame in its retracted condition while being free for movement to a substantially vertically depending active condition (see Fig. 12). Each of the runner elements has a first curved portion 39 extending about the corresponding circular bearing with some clearance, and carries the runner proper t! through a pair of angular braces 4i Straps 42 may be carried by braces 45 to extend about the wheel frame braces lid and lib for retaining the runner element in its retracted condition.

In order that the mounting portion of the two runner elements may be formed of relatively light construction, the runners are designed to directly engage the underside of the wheel tire H3 in their active conditions, to thus support the weight of the cart through the wheel and not through the supports Ml. The two runners are retained in their active condition by passage of straps 42 about the wheel (see Fig. 11) and form together a double runner of considerable size. The curved portions 39 of the two runner elements extend about opposite sides of their corresponding bearlugs and are spaced from the two bearings predetermined relatively small distances (see Fig. such that the runner elements and wheel may swing together through a predetermined arc relative to the cart frame structure as the cart moves up or down an incline or over an obstacle.

Fig. 13 shows an auxiliary tongue or handle assembly 53 which may be attached to the forward end of the cart by a pair of fasteners 44 when the load is such that two persons may be required to move it. This handle assembly in. cludes a pair of telescopic members 45 relatively positioned by set screw 46 and connected to the forward end of the cart by a pair of angular members ll.

Normally the cart will be in a completely collapsed condition in which the two longitudinal frame members are individually folded at opposite sides of the wheel, the cart being shown approximately in this condition in Fig. 3. At this point it should be mentioned that the ears ll forming the joint between the two lowermost sections we and id of each longitudinal frame member are bent slightly inwardly (see Figs. 4 and 8) so that the sections I00, lb and Illa. will lie flatly against the side of the wheel and the wheel mounting frame in the collapsed condition of the cart. When the occasion arises for use of the cart, the various sections of the two longitudinal frame members it are opened to their extended or straight line condition of Fig. 1, and the associated sections I la or Mb of the transverse load supporting members are swung outwardly from their retracted positions alongside the longitudinal members to their inwardly projecting active positions, as permitted by pivotal movement relative to nuts 19 and by bodily rotation with these nuts. Movement of each of the transverse sections to this inwardly projecting condition interlocks the corresponding longitudinal sec tions in their extended conditions by reception of web or rib 26 within recesses 2i and by engagement of the transverse section with shoulders 20 on the longitudinal sections. The extended longitudinal members iii are then free to swing apart due to their pivotal connection to the two wheel mounting bearings by pins 21', and are retained in the spaced condition of Fig. 2 by interconnection of the sections Ma and Mb of the various transverse load supporting members. The upper and lower sets of these transverse sections may be positively retained in their erected relation by a pair of cotter keys 48 which are preferably permanently carried by the transverse member through chains 49.

The wheel is moved to its active position by first threading wing nuts 32 and bearings l2 outwardly along rod 3! to release eccentric hub portion 35 from ball bearings 29, and by then moving the wheel downwardly as seen in Fig. 9, to its active condition in which the bearings may be tightened about the central hub 39 to mount the wheel for rotation about its central axis. The animal to be carried is placed along the curved transverse members and may be easily transported over any type of terrain by virtue of the one wheel mounting of the cart. If snow is encountered, the two runner elements 36 are released from their upper positions to swing downwardly beneath and in engagement with the underside of the wheel. The runners are strapped in this condition and serve together to eifectively support the weight of the cart through the wheel.

I claim:

1. A collapsible cart comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frame members, each of said frame members comprising a plurality of sections and means interconnecting said sections in an end to end series and for relative folding movement between an extended and a collapsed condition, means interconnectingsaid frame members for relative lateral movement between active positions in predetermined laterally spaced relation and collapsed inwardly displaced positions, a transverse load supporting member, means mounting said load supporting member to one of the frame members for swinging movement relative thereto between an active position projecting inwardly toward the other frame member and a collapsed outer position, means operable upon movement of the-load supporting member to said inwardly projecting position to interlock a pair of sections of said one frame member against relative folding movement from extended condition, and a ground traveling unit for movably supporting the cart.

2. A collapsible cart comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frame, members, each of said frame members comprising a plurality of sections and means interconnecting said sections in an end to end series and for relative folding movement between an extended and a collapsed condition, means interconnecting said frame members for relative lateral movement between active positionsin predetermined laterally spaced relation and collapsed inwardly displaced positions, a transverse load supporting member including a pair of separable sections, means mounting said transverse member sections to the frame members respectively at joints connecting corresponding pairs of the frame member sections and each for swinging movement between an inwardly projecting active position and a collapsed outer position, means operable upon movement of each of said transverse member sections to its inwardly projecting position to interlock said pair of sections of the associated frame member against relative folding movement from extended condition, means for releasably interconnecting the transverse sections in said inwardly projecting positions, and a ground a traveling unit for movably supporting the cart.

3. A collapsible cart comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frame members, each of said frame members comprising a plurality of sections and rotatable fasteners interconnecting said sections in an end to end series for relative folding movement between an extended condition and a collapsed condition, a transverse load supporting member, means mounting said loading supporting member to one of said rotatable fasteners and thereby to one of the frame members for pivotal movement relative to the fastener and for rotation therewith, whereby said load supporting member is swingable relative to said one frame member between an active position projecting laterally therefrom and toward the other frame member and a collapsed position alongside said one frame member, and a ground traveling unit for movably supporting the cart.

4. A collapsible cart comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frame members, each of said frame members comprising a plurality of sections and means interconnecting said sections in an end to end series for relative folding movement between an extended condition and a collapsed condition, a transverse load supporting member, means mounting said load supporting member to one of the frame members for swinging movement relative thereto between an active position projecting inwardly toward the other frame member and a collapsed outer position, means operable upon movement of the load supporting member to its inwardly projecting position to interlock an associated pair of sections of said one frame member against relative folding movement from extended condition, and a ground traveling unit for movably supporting the cart.

5. A collapsible cart comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frame members, each of said frame members comprising a plurality of sections and means interconnecting said sections in an end to end series for relative folding movement between an extended condition and a collapsed condition, a transverse load supporting member, means mounting said load supporting member to one of the frame members at a joint interconnecting a pair of its sections for swinging movement relative thereto between an active position projecting inwardly toward the other frame member and a collapsed outer position, said pair of sections having a pair of recesses registering in the extended position of the sections, means on the load supporting member movable into said recesses upon movement of the load supporting member to said inwardly projecting position to thereby interlock the pair of sections against relative folding movement from extended position, and a ground traveling unit for movably supporting the cart.

6.. A collapsible cart comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frame members, each of said frame members comprising a plurality of sections and means interconnecting said sections in an end to end series for relative folding movement between an extended condition and a col lapsed condition, a transverse load supporting member including a pair of separable sections, means mounting said transverse member sections to the frame members respectively at joints connecting corresponding pairs of the frame member sections and each for swinging movement between an inwardly projecting active position and a collapsed outer position, means operable to interlock each of said pairs of frame member sections against relative folding movement from said extended condition upon movement of the corresponding transverse member sections to its inwardly projecting position, means for releasably interconnecting said transverse member sections in their inwardly projecting positions, and a ground traveling unit for movably supporting the cart,

'7. In a collapsible game carrying cart, a load supporting frame, a ground traveling wheel having a portion containing a slot extending utwardly from the center of the wheel, a rod extending through said slot in the wheel, a pair of bearings mounted to the frame, means attaching said bearings to opposite ends of said rod and for relative movement together and apart along said rod, and means on the wheel interengageable by said bearings in an inwardly displaced position thereof to mount the wheel for rotation relative to the bearings and disengageable in an outwardly displaced condition of the bearings to permit movement of the wheel transversely of the bearings.

CHARLES W. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,138,641 Dolge May 11, 1915 1,907,321 Hilstrom May 2, 1933 2,207,283 Brown July 9, 1940 2,422,331 Bates June 1'7, 1947 2,429,028 Neeley Oct. 14, 1947 2,450,051 Manning Sept. 28, 1948 2,464,525 Nurney Mar. 15, 1949 2,480,256 Nurenberg et a1. Aug. 30,1949 2,484,677 Binz Oct. 11, 1949 2,490,189 Alexander Dec. 6, 1949 2,490,988 Wheeler Dec. 13, 1949 

